It was his anxiety. He didn't want to perform, he wanted to write the songs only but he was unable to sell them so he decided to sing them himself. But it scared him and therefore he is sweating.
He put so much of himself in his singing, he would actually vomit prior to the curtain opening. What you took for tears was actually rivers of sweat from anxiety and emotional intensity. He also had a strong work ethic. In, I guess , 1967 , he stopped giving live concerts and turned to studio recording and acting because he felt that he was getting into a routine and was no longer able to give that emotion he felt he owed his public. A lot of French singers focus on meaning of their lyrics, emotion, getting almost into character like actors, more than musical / vocal prowess , like say , Céline Dion from Québec who is an expert vocal technician while good at conveying emotions as well . We call this style of songs "chansons à texte" , songs that emphasize meaning of lyrics over technical musical and vocal prowess.
It is not a love song but a desperate prayer: don't go away. He promises her the impossible, but don't go away. It is translated but in English you can not catch the drama of the original. They have sweetened it. Brel wrote all his song himself, hundreds.
@@tulifuli The last verse is a real supplication. Become the shadow of your shadow... Become your dog's shadow... I love Jacques Brel and I love this song but that last verse is horrible. Besides, when I sing it at family meals, I stop before....
Bonjour Jacques Brel is an icon of French song. It's all in the lyrics and its emotion. There are 2 categories of songs the slow and the fast .I advise you to listen to a fast song of him "Vesoul" you will have the extent of his talent
Hello, Yes, I strongly agree. I think *"Jacques Brel - Vesoul - English translation and French lyrics"* (on *Matteo Valentini* YT channel) is a good link for him. Cause, there's a live video with Brel and Azzola, but the sound is much too bad; the bass and the guitar cover all the other instruments, and, still more unfortunately, Marcel Azzola's incredible accordion, which is nevertheless the centerpiece of this title which, no longer has any meaning if you don't hear it. *Marcel Azzola* was undoubtedly one of the best accordionists ever. And that's also what made this Brel song so famous. Because, even if we don't particularly like the accordion as me, there, we have to capitulate in front of so much talent...
The very high pitched instrument is an "Ondes Martenot", this was one of the first electronic music instruments created in 1928, few years after the Theremin.
Beautiful ❤️🔥 I looked up the lyrics and it's so beautiful and it's so sweet and heart rending how the King asks for his queen not to leave ❤️🔥 and lovers are given a second chance, never to part ever ❤️🔥
Try "La chanson des vieux amants" (The old lovers' song) or "Quand on n' a que l' amour" (When love is all we have). I have been worshipping Brel for the last 60 years. It is always refreshing to me and profoundly emotional. Thank you for your reaction.
Thanks so much. Huge masterpiece and rendition. Love the French covers of Nina Simone and the English one's done by Dusty Springfield and Scott Walker. This is his most iconic song with "Amsterdam" whose live rendition is terrific. Check it out.
Sting did a version of this some years back which is quite good. But Brel's version - he is the writer - is definitive. With that said, there is also a lovely version by Nina Simone.
Brel's mother language was dutch and he put words together the way us french we don't put them and the poetry in French was wonderful, He wrote music and wLyrics. He didn't sing he lived the song . He died in 1978 but he was quite modern inhis way of singing
Try Gilbert Becaud, Natalie and please, please look into Edith Piaf (Je ne regrette rien or Milord will get you there). Adamo, Inch Allah. So many awesome French singers.
This song is not about love. this song talks about the honor of man, he does not say to a woman do not leave me, it is cowardly to do that, it is to not be a coward that he wishes to never lose his honor
Jacques Brel was so invested in his stage performances that he would always sweat profusely. It was a sight to see.
Cry tears too.
Throw up even.
And he would need 10 minues after each song to be backstage and recollect himself. It was a sight to behold.
It was his anxiety. He didn't want to perform, he wanted to write the songs only but he was unable to sell them so he decided to sing them himself. But it scared him and therefore he is sweating.
He put so much of himself in his singing, he would actually vomit prior to the curtain opening. What you took for tears was actually rivers of sweat from anxiety and emotional intensity. He also had a strong work ethic. In, I guess , 1967 , he stopped giving live concerts and turned to studio recording and acting because he felt that he was getting into a routine and was no longer able to give that emotion he felt he owed his public. A lot of French singers focus on meaning of their lyrics, emotion, getting almost into character like actors, more than musical / vocal prowess , like say , Céline Dion from Québec who is an expert vocal technician while good at conveying emotions as well . We call this style of songs "chansons à texte" , songs that emphasize meaning of lyrics over technical musical and vocal prowess.
he is like a child wanting to give everything so his mother wont leave him, it is very primal as is Brel.
his most insanes songs are "Amsterdam" and "La valse à 1000 temps". Jacques Brel is a legend for a good reason.
These aren't my favourite songs of his. I prefer "Les Vieux", "Les Flamandes" for it's sarcastic lyrics, "Mathilde", "Vesoul", or "Jojo".
It is not a love song but a desperate prayer: don't go away. He promises her the impossible, but don't go away. It is translated but in English you can not catch the drama of the original. They have sweetened it. Brel wrote all his song himself, hundreds.
He told the media it was a portrait of a cowardly man abasing himself, not of him,
@@tulifuli The last verse is a real supplication.
Become the shadow of your shadow...
Become your dog's shadow...
I love Jacques Brel and I love this song but that last verse is horrible.
Besides, when I sing it at family meals, I stop before....
He's trying to win his lady's affection by humbling himself before her.
It is one of the the more than 100 he wrote. So he put himself in the mood to write this, As most songs are written. @@tulifuli
He is exaggerating for effect.@@daniellegrand4566
one of the most beautiful song i know what the incredible artist was Jacques Brel
An absolutely heartbreaking song, and he’s so desperate that he completely debases himself. Extraordinary artist.
Bonjour Jacques Brel is an icon of French song. It's all in the lyrics and its emotion. There are 2 categories of songs the slow and the fast .I advise you to listen to a fast song of him "Vesoul" you will have the extent of his talent
Hello,
Yes, I strongly agree.
I think *"Jacques Brel - Vesoul - English translation and French lyrics"* (on *Matteo Valentini* YT channel) is a good link for him. Cause, there's a live video with Brel and Azzola, but the sound is much too bad; the bass and the guitar cover all the other instruments, and, still more unfortunately, Marcel Azzola's incredible accordion, which is nevertheless the centerpiece of this title which, no longer has any meaning if you don't hear it. *Marcel Azzola* was undoubtedly one of the best accordionists ever. And that's also what made this Brel song so famous. Because, even if we don't particularly like the accordion as me, there, we have to capitulate in front of so much talent...
French language but Belgian singer...
@@jennequinjean-francois2610 lol of course
“Amsterdam” is another song of him that you should listen to, it convey more like a feeling of madness
The very high pitched instrument is an "Ondes Martenot", this was one of the first electronic music instruments created in 1928, few years after the Theremin.
Beautiful ❤️🔥 I looked up the lyrics and it's so beautiful and it's so sweet and heart rending how the King asks for his queen not to leave ❤️🔥 and lovers are given a second chance, never to part ever ❤️🔥
That’s art !!!
an expert example of how its all about performance! one of my all-times
one of the best-est songs in french language... i'd suggest you react to leo ferré 'avec le temps' ; ferré was quite an interpret and a poet as well
Man you need to read the translation. The lyrics are so poetic!
Try "La chanson des vieux amants" (The old lovers' song) or "Quand on n' a que l' amour" (When love is all we have). I have been worshipping Brel for the last 60 years. It is always refreshing to me and profoundly emotional. Thank you for your reaction.
Love the reaction! Thanks for the video man
Coisa mais linda
Un monument ! A lot of other titles.
Great reaction, from France!
Its belgian singer...no french
in France classic is very important story even when they sing perfect
Yes But Brel its belgian singer...not french
Thanks so much. Huge masterpiece and rendition. Love the French covers of Nina Simone and the English one's done by Dusty Springfield and Scott Walker. This is his most iconic song with "Amsterdam" whose live rendition is terrific. Check it out.
Merci!!!!gracias for open mind for other languages 😂❤😂
Sting did a version of this some years back which is quite good. But Brel's version - he is the writer - is definitive. With that said, there is also a lovely version by Nina Simone.
Yes and *Wyclef Jean* too in 2017.
Brel's mother language was dutch and he put words together the way us french we don't put them and the poetry in French was wonderful, He wrote music and wLyrics. He didn't sing he lived the song . He died in 1978 but he was quite modern inhis way of singing
Really ? I’m french and he has no Accent at all, he really Sounds like a native speaker
Do you understand one word of this wonderful song???
Otherwise you cant appreciate it.😮😢❤
Thats one of the best songs/poems ever
To give an idea of Jacques impact, he is the male Edith Piaf of the chanson fracaise, despite being a Belgian poet.
a good next step in this direction would be his predecessor edith piaf. try 'non, je ne regrette rien'
The lyrics are beautiful.
J'approuve what you say😂
Loved this. My first acquaintance with this song was by the great Edith Piaf. Worth a listen.
Hum, sorry but Edith Piaf did not sing that song. The pale cover on utube is from an ersatz of Edith Piaf
J ai pleins de musiques pour toi❤❤❤❤
If you are dipping your toe into French music, allow me to suggest “Edition Speciale” by the French singer Francis Cabrel.
Adapted by Rod MCKUEN as If Your Go away. Rod claimed to be a friend of JAQUES,, who saw him as a poete mineur.
Try Gilbert Becaud, Natalie and please, please look into Edith Piaf (Je ne regrette rien or Milord will get you there). Adamo, Inch Allah. So many awesome French singers.
This song is not about love. this song talks about the honor of man, he does not say to a woman do not leave me, it is cowardly to do that, it is to not be a coward that he wishes to never lose his honor
You might also like American Nina Simone's version.
stalkers song very creepy and beautiful
If you don’t enderstand Words , it’s damaging
Aux premiers temps de la valse tu es dans mes bras....
Nina Simone sang this song
Jacques Brel without translation, The performance is amazing, but you missed 75% .........
You should listen to the Wyclef version
Try saying: nuh muh kee'tuh pah.
Certain détail de votre visage trahit votre cœur .Vos yeux qui écoutent sont un miroir .